Surround Yourself with Love When you’re ill, it’s easy to withdraw. But people who care about you can help your physical healing with their support. In a study published in 2005 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers found that when wounds of the same shape, size, and depth were experimentally induced in couples, healing was much faster if the couples were loving toward each other rather than hostile. So, if you are ill or injured, embrace those who reach out to you. And if you find yourself alone, seek out shoulders to lean on, whether of friends, relatives, colleagues, or a formal support group.
Tap Into Your Spirituality Daily prayer or reflection can help you heal. Even if you don’t believe in divine intervention, the process of quieting your mind and connecting to something greater than yourself can enhance relaxation and the sense of control. This, in turn, directly affects blood pressure and other physiologic processes in the body. —J.K.S.
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